Tuesday, September 06, 2011

And no, I'm not talking about CHRISTMAS - I'm talking about the first day of SCHOOL!

While I love my kids and cherish them being at home, I know most of you are with me in the excitement of having them return to school, too! ;) Though my guys have already been back for a couple of weeks now, for many of my northern friends as well as friends overseas the first day back is TODAY! So I thought I'd share a little back to school scrapbooking inspiration with you so you can document this momentous occasion with the bazilliondy photos you are bound to take in all the spare time you are about to have! (I kid, I kid!)

This layout was initially done as part of BasicGrey's Page of the Month program. If you're a retailer and you haven't heard about this program, you NEED to check into it now! It's truly fantastic and a great regular class for your clients. If you're a customer, hound your retailer into getting in their store! You won't want to miss it next year, I promise!

My big guy Ethan started middle school this fall and he's not as much into having me take his photo anymore, much less a first day of school one. So to make me feel better (and delude myself into thinking he's still small), I documented all his first days of elementary school in this one double-page spread using BasicGrey's new OXFORD collection. This collection is one of my all-time favorites for school, boys and everything in between.

Just LOOK how tiny he was in kindy. You know I can hardly remember him that small and yet I remember his first day like it was yesterday. I am so thankful I have these photos to remind me of just how much he's grown.

And if you're looking for further inspiration, my friends at Scrapbooks Etc. has put together some of their favorite back to school pages, including a couple of my oldie but goodie favorites. You can check them out here and here. Keep scrolling to find many more wonderful examples of ways to document school related things that go even beyond the first day.

So to celebrate this most wonderful day, leave a comment here about YOUR favorite thing about school and you will be entered to win an OXFORD collection pack of your very own! Contest will close without notice so get your entries in ASAP! Only one comment per person, please.

My favourite thing about school is seeing my boys being excited about their new school supplies and making new friends. We recently moved 1200km and while it is an adjustment for all of us the boys are liking their new school and their teachers. Whew, it makes me feel more relaxed!

Love your layout! My children have been in school for over 4 weeks. But, i agree it;s the most wonderful timne of the year! The best thing about school is the clothes and supplies and of course the first week crushes.

This back to school is a little bittersweet because my "baby" is a senior in high school this year. I know the school year will fly by and before I know it, he will be away for college. I am trying to savor every moment this year from packing lunches to giving him gas money - LOL!

I love how you compared his first days throughout the years. My favorite part of back to school was always shopping for new supplies. There's still something about a fresh notebook and new pack of crayons that makes me giddy. :)

My favorite thing about school is that we don't have to go there any more. My son just graduated with a BA in Music Education so we'll still be close to the school environment. I love this layout for the page of the month program and just finished mine the other day. I had to change it up since my kids are grown now. Here's a link to my layout for our class tomorrow: http://www.stickerstoreandmore.com/Net%20Calendar/2011/September/Basic%20Grey%20Page%20Of%20The%20Month%20September%202011.htm. Be sure to use some of the Debate Team paper for your party layouts. Carson looks so cute with his Harry Potter glasses and scarf.

I'm a teacher at a Child Development Center and the first day is what we look forward to all summer. Both my boys are in my class this year and I am so excited to watch them grow and develop along with all my other kiddos!

I always liked the crisp, new school supplies, especially the new colored pencils! While I just had to buy some of the Oxford line when it came out, I'd take some more. I love the colors and just look at the cardstock with the cute pencils!

My favorite thing is that moment of quiet in my house after everyone gets on the bus! Seriously, back to school is good in lots of ways and I do a happy dance every year when the kids go back...the routine & time with friends is good for them...the time alone is good for me! I love that you titled this blog post "It's the most wonderful time of the year"...I adore that old Staples back to school commercial and even used that title for my back to school layout two years ago!

Loved your layout Kelly! I think I'll have to do a layout showing all the first days of school through elementary...love how it showcases their growth!

I have started at University (I graduated high school last year) just one week ago and I love it to start my new life: meeting new people, going to school in our beautiful capital city and majoring in something that is completely new to me:)

I have a high schooler and one going into college this year and they both were still excited for school to start! Who knew!! Of course after the first week they were ready for it to end! lol. I just love that no matter what age (apparently :) all the kids in the neighborhood start getting excited and talking about what they will wear, who they will sit next to, who their teachers are etc. and it brings back the fond memories of school that i have.

OMG! I thought I was the *only* Mom loving the first day back to school!!?! First, I loved school (especially biology lab, weird, right?), so it's not like I'm wishing something awful on the Lilliputians. And second, we all do better with our own "stuff" going on! Thanks for the chance, Kelly!P.S. Harry Potter party looks SO awesome... when my son gets big enough, I hope to borrow some of your ideas!

My favorite thing about school is the first day. I was a teacher and I remember the excitement of getting my classroom ready, the new name tags and supplies, the anticipation. I still have that now but it is on the other sisde as I am a stay at home mom. I love anticipating the first day with my own kids. Fun stuff.

When I was younger, my favorite thing about school was the new 64 count box of Crayola crayons I always got. As I got older, my favorite part was whenever I got a new syllabus, and saw all of the new things I would be learning.

Love this school layout, especially the combing of photos from his different grades - really cute!

My favorite thing from school, when my kids were still in school, was learning things again with them. I don't think I truly appreciated history when I was kid. As my kids went through school, I found it amazingly fun to read the history text books!

My favorite thing about school while a little girl in Mexico was the yummy food I got to purchase! (I know, I still remember that!) -- Here as a teenager was meeting with my friends -- and now as a Librarian, all that I can share with students/teenagers and making a difference at least in one student's life a year!!

Love the layout!! My favorite thing about this year's first day of school was my son's face seeing the school bus coming down our street for the first time to take him to kindergarten. He was so excited! Thanks for the chance to win!S